The Island of Paros to The Island of Naxos.

Written 20^th August 2012

This morning when we were packed up we said good-bye to Rena and headed off down to the port with our back packs brimming. Steve had a coffee and then we went over to where the ferry comes in. People we waiting everywhere but the boat was late. We were herded into these long sort of holding bays and I felt a bit like a cow lining up to get a stripe on my back. Luckily though no one doused me with anything - although we did have to withstand the pungent fumes of the smokers next to us.

We finally got to board the ferry after a wait of 30min or so in the holding space. We were all packed into the garage of the ferry and unsure where to go. For a while confusion reined and people were wandering everywhere while Greek ferry men in fluro vests hollered in Greek and blew whistles. We had to sit up the top of the ferry as it was so packed. It was SUPER windy. The ferry was rolling over the wind swell all the way to Naxos. It was not a long journey – only about 30 mins and then we were herded down into the car storage area. All us passengers waited in the bowls of the ship as she opened her ass end to the elements to the accompaniment of seriously loud sirens.The ferry backed up to the wharf and men were running and yelling and throwing ropes and pulling ropes until she came to rest in the correct position. Then we were streaming down the ramp and onto a new lovely island.

We were unsure where to go at first. The instructions for our hostel (Klimataria Studios) were a bit vague; Agios Prokopios Bus Stop on the left in 50 m. The hostel is located on your right. 50 m from Agios Prokopios Beach. So we thought first we better see where we were in relation to Agios Prokopios (or if we were actually there already). We found a map on the wharf and saw it was a little way away so we must have to catch a bus. At the end of the wharf there was a bus office slightly to the left so we bought tickets for the bus and waited in the sun for it to be 2.00 (A half hour wait.) We then crossed the road to the bus stop with permission of the whistle-happy pedestrian crossing cop. (He loved his job!)

When the bus driver was ready to go we loaded out packs into the luggage place and joined the throng trying to get in the bus. The bus driver was yelling the whole time at the top of his lungs in Greek and we had no idea what he was talking about. We just squeezed on (only 2 others made it on after us) and it turned out the the bus driver had just been talking on the phone. It reminded me of yesterday morning when I was woken up by two women yelling in (I think Greek) at each other outside our bathroom vent. It sounded like they were having a massive argument but maybe they were just passionately gossiping!

So the whole way on the bus was a squash but it wasn't too long a trip, maybe 15 mins. And then we were deposited at Agios Prokopios Beach. It is a lovely beach. All golden sand and turquoise water. We reread the instructions. We were unsure if the bit about the bus stop and left was for when we first left the wharf or for when we left the bus. We though we couldn't start walking left because then the sea would be on the right so we went off to the right. We could not see the hostel anywhere down there. So we walked back to where the bus had let us out and saw that on the other side of the road to where we got out was a bus stop sign and to the left of that sign (if you are facing the sea) was a little road. So we tried that one and we found it! (That's our room on the corner at the top.)

We were greeted by a little round lady called Eva with hugs and kisses like we were long lost friends. It is a lovely place. Eva led us up the stairs to another room number 4. It is lovely and large and had aircon and a fridge and balcony.

I like the lampshade and the table cloth and the foliage on our balcony.

Such a nice room! After we had payed we went off to get some lunch with yet another beautiful view. Steve tried fish roe salad which turned out to be just a sort of pureed fish roe mixed with something which he liked but it was more like a pate or something you would want to eat with something else. I had greek salad.

Now we a chilling back in the room. I'm going to go and read my book! :)

In the evening we had another dinner with a view and a nice stroll on the beach.